PRO FOOTBALL

PRO FOOTBALL; Dallas to Raise Offer to Smith

Published: August 29, 1993

IRVING, Texas, Aug. 28—
The Dallas Cowboys, winners of only one of five games in the preseason, plan to offer holdout running back Emmitt Smith a four-year, $11 million contract based on the National Football League's new franchise-player pay scale, The Fort Worth Star Telegram reported today.

But the Cowboys won't necessarily designate Smith as their franchise player, thus saving that title for another player, the report said.

"It's been our position all along to pay Emmitt like he's a franchise running back because he certainly is that," Jerry Jones, the team owner, said. "But, obviously, we don't want to use it if we don't have to."

Smith, with consecutive N.F.L. rushing titles, two Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl ring courtesy of the Cowboys' victory over the Buffalo Bills in January, is holding out for $4 million a season. Jones's last official offer is for $10 million over four years.